Get out of the office and into the warm sun with an upcoming chapter event. Check out the events below:

Midlands NAMA Golf Outing
The Midlands NAMA Golf Outing will take place, Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at the Iron Horse Golf Club. Tee off at 1:00 p.m. Bring a foursome or we’ll pair you up. Everyone is welcome, including non-members! Bring co-workers, clients or spouses. Iron Horse Golf Club is located between Mahoney State Park and Ashland, NE (check out www.golfironhorse.com). It has been recognized by Golf Digest as “One of the Best New Courses.” This is a day full of fun, prizes, lunch, cart and green fees all for $70! For complete registration information contact, Jim Martin at jmartin_hpj@hotmail.com or at 402.289.1734.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/mil6-5-07.htm.

Iowa NAMA Golf Outing
Due to rain, the annual NAMA Golf Outing was rescheduled for June 15! Participation at every level helps to raise funds for the Iowa State University Student NAMA Chapter. Tee-off is at 1 pm. We will have a social time after the golf as well.

Sign-up deadline is June 6th. Please register for the new golf day even if you already signed up for the first date. Golfers can sign-up together or individually. For registration information and details click: http://www.relonline.com/namagolf.asp.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/ioagolf.htm.

Iowa NAMA Field-To-Food Run
Preparations are in motion and the date is set for the 2007 Iowa NAMA Field to Food Run. The event will take place on June 15, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. Iowa NAMA will be partnering with Johnston Green Days, an annual community celebration held in Johnston, IA. Through this partnership, the Run will be incorporated into the festivities for Green Days instead of being a stand-alone event. Iowa NAMA is looking for involvement with promotion, race setup, sponsorship, and food. Please contact Roxi Beck for details at roxi@cmakc.com.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/ioa6-15-07.htm.

North Central Golf Outing
Join North Central NAMA for their 2007 Golf Outing, Thursday, June 21 (The first official day of summer!). Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and tee-off time is 11:00 a.m. This will be a 4-person scramble format and the cost is $100 per player. Cost includes golf, cart, range balls, dinner and great prizes. If you would just like to attend the dinner, the cost is $30. Hole Sponsorships are available for $200 (includes one golf registration and a hole sign with logo). For more information or to register a team, contact Troy Schroeder, Broadhead + Co., at tschroeder@broadheadco.com or at 612.617.7930.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/nocgolf.htm.

MoKan Golf Classic
Mark your calendars for the MoKan Golf Classic, Tuesday, June 26 at Falcon Lakes Golf Course in Basehor, KS. Registration is from 11:15 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. There will be a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. Cost is $340.00 Per Team of 4 ($85.00 per player). Register on-line at http://payment.nama.org/chapter.htm or make checks payable to: MO-KAN NAMA and send your check for $85 per player + sponsorship + Tiger Woods package to: Bob Brunker, J.L. Farmakis, Inc.,8209 NW 81st Ct., Kansas City, MO 64152.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/mokgolf.htm.

Northern Prairie Golferoo
The Northern Prairie Golferoo is more fun than you ought to have on a Thursday! The golferoo will take place on June 28 at Fargo’s Edgewood Golf Course. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. and tee times begin at 11:00 a.m. Cost is $65 for members and $80 for non-members. Entry fee includes green fees, cart and steak dinner following the tournament…and prizes! First-time members can get one year NAMA dues and Golferoo entry for $165 (this is a savings of over $50 if purchased separately). To register contact Dave McSparron, Red River Farm Network at 218-230-3010 or e-mail to dave@rrfn.com.

For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/chapters/nopgolferoo.htm.

MoKan Ag Tour
MoKan NAMA will again host an Ag Tour prior to the NAMA Boot Camp on Tuesday, August 21. The tour will depart from the Hyatt Regency Crown Center at 8:30 a.m. The tour will return to the hotel by 4:00 p.m. and includes lunch and refreshments. The cost for the tour is $45.

For more information on the Ag Tour and the NAMA Boot Camp, visit http://www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp.htm.To register visit, https://nama.org/programs/bootcamp-register.htm.

If you are a leader in your chapter, you will benefit by attending a regional leader workshop. These workshops are considered a “must attend event” for chapter leaders and committee chairs or anyone who may be interested in joining your leadership team. You won’t be disappointed in the time you invest.

The leader workshop is an interactive workshop. Chapter leaders will spend time discussing topics relevant to their chapter. Programming, membership, and communication are just a few of the topics that will be discussed.

The Region III workshop has been scheduled for Thursday, June 21, prior to the North Central Golf Outing at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville, MN. The workshop will take place from 8:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Region II has not yet set a date for their regional workshop.

If you have any questions feel free to contact the NAMA office at 913-491-6500.

Chapter Leadership
Make the most of your membership by taking a committee role at the chapter level. Gain hands-on leadership experience that will benefit you in your professional and personal life.

Chapter leaders are currently recruiting committee members. If you are interested in becoming a member of a chapter committee, contact your chapter president. A list of chapter presidents can be found at http://www.nama.org/chapters/chapters-index.html.

Note: Chapter Presidents, if you have your leaders selected for the upcoming 2007-2008 program year, please submit them to Linda Schaefer at the NAMA office at lindas@nama.org.

“You don’t talk about branding, you demonstrate branding,” said Mike Wagner, President of White Rabbit Group, during April’s Iowa NAMA Professional Development Seminar. The Read-Ready Leadership Seminar was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, Iowa, April 23.

Wagner advocated the importance of a brand during the one day seminar. “Consumers have the ability, now more than ever, to exempt themselves from advertising messages. Even though you might have a strong brand, it’s a competitive landscape, and companies will experience change,” Wagner explained.

Dan Belzer, Marketing Manager, Vermeer Manufacturing agreed, “Being in a company who recently changed logos, it was timely and very informative.” Belzer noted, “I always enjoy learning from other industry experts about their challenges and successes within agricultural marketing.”

Consumers will continue to sieve out what they see and hear, however emotional attachments between themselves and the brands they buy will continue to deepen. “Quality gets you into the competitive landscape, it doesn’t guarantee a sale. In the next 5 to 10 years companies that offer a commodity and differentiate themselves based upon quality alone will be bought, sold, or go out of business,” Wagner predicts. “In a competitive global environment, it won’t be enough to have quality as your point of sale.”

Wagner advised, “Quality has now become table stakes. It just gets you into the game.” Brand-focused companies are idea rich. Your company becomes a commodity when you stop bringing good ideas to the market place. Organizational leaders have to ask themselves, if they’re ready to move to an intentionally-branded culture, then the brand becomes a business decision-making tool – the driver of your organization.

“No one ever waxed a rental car,” Wagner commented. It’s important in an organization experiencing change that your people are trained to read the moment and know what has to be done and most importantly how to keep focus on your brand purpose. Everyone needs to understand their contribution and know what you need to do. When you don’t have ownership, you don’t make decisions around the brand.

Fernando Valdez, Ph.D., Senior Product Manager, Kemin Agri Foods North America, Inc. saw the seminar as very beneficial to his business, “This topic was presented at a very opportune time for me. Topics and seminars of this kind in the local Des Moines area and with local people make our NAMA membership very valuable.”

Wagner challenged leaders of organizations to prepare their people to be able to lead in any given situation, always focusing on the brand promises. NAMA members reviewed four types of read-ready personalities that make up an organization; Blue (Relationship Specialists), Gold (Achievement Specialists), Green (Process Specialists), Orange (Social Specialists). Personality styles were evaluated in an effort to help build fully-engaged teams and workforces.

“We no longer live in an era of resources; we have to live in an era of resourcefulness,” states Mike Wagner. Shannon Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Hybrids agrees, “The Read-Ready Leadership program challenged me to rethink how we conduct business. Mike emphasized the importance of leading change, regardless of whether one serves on the management team. And as a result, I became motivated to lead change within my own company. I want each person on our staff to feel empowered to ’live the brand.’ Our business will be so much more successful in the long run if each of us demonstrates our company’s brand promise while working with others both inside and outside the organization.

Since January 1, 2007, we’ve grown 147 new members. Please join us in welcoming:

At Large
Kathlene Barrett, Progressive Agriculture Foundation
Barb Glen, The Western Producer
Rasaq Jamiu
Laura Laing, AdFarm
Robert Larmer, Grand Valley Fortifiers
Stephen Powell, AgDealer
Ihar Tataryn, Belarusian State University
Yauheni Tataryn, Belarusian State University
Lynda Tityk, Farm Business Comm.
Sasha Volkau, Bos Advertising

Badger
Scott Bentley, ABS Global, Inc.
Megan Cooper, Monsanto
Max Hooker, Intercrown Enterprise
Grant Ihrke, Digi-Star
Chris Mier, Insight Marketing
Dawn Murray, EMD Crop BioScience

CAMA Ontario
Denise Bott, The Western Producer/Acreage Life
Tina Holmes, DMG World Media
Colin Smith, Hyland Seeds
Janette Whittington, Osborn & Barr Canada

Carolinas/Virginia
Troy Bettner, MANA
Wendell Calhoun, Syngenta Crop Protection
Fran Castle, BASF Corporation
Erin Hardy, Apex Equine
Jennifer Hodorowicz, Quarry Integrated Communications
Paul Holland, Summit Coastal Flooring
Amanda Ruth, Quarry Integrated Communications
Casey West, Gibbs & Soell

Central California
Joe Middione, AGRIAN
Tom Van Nortwick, Agribusiness Publications

Chesapeake
Christi Brewer, Grant Heilman Photography, Inc.
Joel Geiger, Country View Farm
Deborah Richardson, USDA/National Agricultural Library
Crystal Standish, AgChoice Farm Credit

Chicago
Rebecca Fry, Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
Mark Hunkeler, Bowtie, Inc. – Hobby Farms Magazine
Stacy Mayo, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications
Steve Slakis, Farm Journal Media

Cornbelt
John Meineke, Kent Feeds, Inc.
Adam Schmitt

Desert Southwest
Dave Mansheim, Gowan Company

Eastern
Theron Kibbe, Farm Credit of Western New York
Marcelo Lang, Schering-Plough Animal Health
Raegan Weber, Pfizer Animal Health

Florida
Amy Dochstader, Ameropa North America
Erin Freel Best, The Market Place
Sarah Graddy, University of FL Environmental Horticulture Dept.
Charles Lanfier, Agra Chem

Gateway
Lisa Adams, Jordan Group
John Kelly, Kelly Research Group Inc.
Lowell Newsom, Longview Advantage
Brian Reuwee, Drake & Company
Scott Rodemich, Ron Scherer & Co.
Kimberly Roth, Monsanto
Whitney Sparks, Monsanto

Heartland
Gary Adair, Brandt Consolidated, Inc.
Jennifer Ballinger, Archer Daniels Midland
Denise Guttery, Illinois Country Living
Julie Reynolds, Brandt Consolidated, Inc.
Josh St. Peters, Illinois Farm Bureau
Marla Todd, University of Illinois

Iowa
Tommy Jones, John Deere Risk Protection
Tonja Richards, Trilix Marketing Group
Chris Ricke, Greater Des Moines Cenvention & Visitors Bureau
Will Rogers, Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Assn.
Arianne Steenblock, Agricredit Acceptance LLC

Mid-America
Bob Battoe, Fastline Publications
Matthew Blasdel
David Blower, Farm World Newspaper
Susan Carney, Dow AgroSciences
Andrew Cripe, Crow’s Hybrid Seed Corn Co.
Aaron Gilbertie, Truffle Media Networks
Aissa Irvin, Purdue University
Stacy Mullins, Farm Credit Services
Bradley Nicholson, Elanco Animal Health
Brent Thorn, Farm Journal Media
Jacqueline Trudell, The Jackson Group

Midlands
Tom Ervin, Ervin & Smith
Bob Gordon, DTN/Progressive Farmer
Jodi Hoatson, Ervin & Smith
Jessica Huscroft, Ervin & Smith
Brent Langman, Encore Enterprises
Krystal Large, Fontanelle Hybrids
Chas Scebold, Claas of America

Midsouth
Ashley Martin, Agriliance
Megan Perry, Archer>Malmo

Missouri-Kansas
Laura Booth, Meers Marketing Communications
Jill Compton, Covansys
Clarenda Fanelli, Farm Journal Media
Todd Firkins, Bayer HealthCare LLC
Mindy Hempler, Bayer CropScience
Jerri Ann Henry, AdFarm
Tara Litzenberger, John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center
Amy Mathes
Don Norton, Boelte-Hall
Bruce Steward, Bayer HealthCare LLC
Tiffany Turner, John Deere
Kimberly Wallis, AdFarm
Justin White, Woodruff Sweitzer

NAMA Pacific
Tim Chelling, Western Growers Assn.
Mike Fetrow, Colle+McVoy
Sarah Warda, Sun Valley Nut

North Central
Juli Anshutz, Sioux Steel Company
Katherine Brozek, Padilla Speer Beardsley
Brynn Burns, Partners Advantage
Lacy Carroll, Martin Williams
Nicola Freeman, Paulsen Public Relations
Bill Hansen, Colle+McVoy
David Heilig, Hot Shots Video Productions
Renae Hermen, Colle+McVoy
Matt Hill
Erin Holte, Martin Williams
Davis Jones, Colle+McVoy
Michelle Kees, Martin Williams
Erin Kelly, Martin Williams
Sarah Kingsley, Martin Williams
Ryan McCormick, Padilla Speer Beardsley
John Monte, Boost, Inc.
Lisa Moorhouse, CHS
Kim Olsen, Millennium Research Inc.
Becky Purdy, Rural Community Insurance Services
Jeena Rinehart, Martin Williams
Dan Sartell, Wensman Seed
Marcus Squier, Paulsen Marketing Communications
Donn Thierer, Martin Williams
Amber Tjernagel, Paulsen Marketing Communications
William Vogt, Farm Progress Companies
Annie Whitehill, John Deere

Northern Prairie
Rebecca Albers, Odney Advertising
David Boehm, Agripro Wheat
Sheena Johnson, North Dakota Grain Growers Assn.
Matt Langemo, Knight Printing Co.
Gerri Lien, AdFarm
Marlin Melander, Raven Industries
Holly Siegling, Raven Industries

Ohio
Rhonda Brooks, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Comm.
Jeff Fenner, Meister Media Worldwide
Lindsay Hill, AdVance Broadcast & Communications, Ltd.

Rocky Mountain
Jan Johnson, Cattleman’s Choice Loomix
Jaime Mollohan, Cargill

Southeastern
Jennifer Daniels, Merial

Southwest
Jennifer Beck, Micro Beef Technologies
Lora Blume, Farm Credit Bank of Texas
Shawne Halm, Omega Protein, Inc.
Stacy Kolar, McDonald Marketing Communications
Denise Pleasant, Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
Stan Ray, Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Just a reminder to mark your calendars for the following upcoming events and deadlines:

NAMA Boot Camp: August 21-23, 2007
Professional Development Awards of Excellence Deadline: September 1, 2007
Best of NAMA Entry Deadline: October 12, 2007
2007 Agribusiness Forum: November 13-14, 2007

Keep watching the National NAMA e-News for more information on the Boot Camp, Awards of Excellence, Best of NAMA Call for Entries and the Agribusiness Forum.